Protection of Women’s Rights should be a top priority in Rehabilitation-Reconstruction in Central Sulawesi

PALU, Central Sulawesi, 29 November 2018: The quick paced delivery of humanitarian response has often failed to factor in protection of women’s rights (PWR) and prevention of gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE).

“The latrine is not equipped with adequate lighting or the door cannot be locked from inside; access to clean water and toilets is difficult, dark. These are aspects that increase the vulnerabilities of displaced women and girls and may lead to GBV ,” said Risya Kori UNFPA Gender Specialist at a coordination meeting.

The coordination meeting preceeded UNFPA-supported focus group discussion involving around 80 representatives from all seven sectors working in rehabilitation-reconstruction efforts to gather intersectoral inputs for the prevention of GBViE and inclusion of PWR in the design, implementation and evaluation process.

Nyimas Aliyah, the Assistant Deputy for PWR at Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, said that protection of women’s rights should be a priority from emergencies, rehab-recon and development. Mechanisms should be in place so that displaced women can voice their complaints and inputs to improve protection and their wellbeing while living in IDPs camps and in temporary shelters. Inputs from the intersectoral organizations participants of the FGD will be used for advocacy for gender-responsive temporary shelters and rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Wishnu Yonar, the UNDP Programme Manager, said that a masterplan for rehabilitation and reconstruction phase is currently being formulated .

The MOWECP-UNFPA Guideline for Protection of Women’s Rights in Emergencies was also launched at the meeting.